Utah Hockey Club draft lottery, explained: How Utah won No. 2 pick, but will actually pick No. 4

Sports are always trying to evolve to give their fans the best product. The changes tend to be made to rules that affect the day-to-day action of the sport, but sometimes bigger changes are made. 

The NHL has long used a draft lottery system. Typically, since a lot of math and luck are involved, the league hasn’t really shown the process of the draft lottery selection. The numbers are usually picked behind the scenes, and the results are just revealed to fans. This, of course, led passionate fans to claim that the results were fraudulent and rigged. 

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The league responded by deciding to hold a draft lottery TV show. The broadcast tried to explain how all of the numbers worked, but they didn’t do a great job. Basically, 16 teams were involved in the draft lottery. The highest that any team could potentially move up was 10 spots. Each team earned a percentage of 4-digit codes that corresponded to their team. On air, they used a contraption that spun the balls in the air until a timer counted down from 30 seconds, when one ball would be selected. 

Four balls were selected to give the four-digit code. That corresponded to a team, and they won that selection. After the Islanders won the No. 1 overall pick, it was the Utah Hockey Club that won the second choice — but they aren’t picking No. 2. 

Here is how the Utah Hockey Club ended up with the No. 4 pick instead of the No. 2. 

MORE: Full results from the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery

Utah Hockey Club draft lottery, explained

The NHL Draft is a big event. Players at the top of the class are expected to perform well for their new franchise and set them up for the future. As the rounds continue, the selections are more about depth with upside. Still, when a team like the Utah Hockey Club has a chance to move up, it is exciting. 

The former Coyotes recently wrapped up their first full season in a new city and are still working on finishing their rebrand. Having a top draft pick would help the franchise continue its rebuild. 

The Utah Hockey Club had the 14th-best chance to win the first overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft. After the Islanders, who were ranked No. 10 and jumped all the way to No. 1, the Utah Hockey Club’s number was called. Theoretically, if this was other sports leagues, that would mean that the Utah Hockey Club would pick No. 2.

Because the NHL has the 10-spot stipulation, since they were starting out at No. 14, the highest they could move was up to No. 4. 

This is still a great spot for the franchise, but it does have to sting at least slightly that even winning the No. 2 pick, they are not picking second, but fourth. 

NHL Draft lottery results 2025